While the wireless industry is abuzz with 5G excitement this week at MWC19 Barcelona, a new Accenture study reveals that business and technology executives globally aren’t sold on the disruptive potential of the next-generation technology.
In a survey of more than 1,800 executives from midsized and large businesses across industries, 53 percent believe there are “very few” thing 5G will enable them to do that can’t already be done with 4G networks, and less than two in five expect 5G will deliver a “revolutionary” change in speed and capacity.
Part of the reason may be because executives have trouble envisioning exactly how their business will use the next-generation technology. According to the study, 72 percent of respondents said they need help imagining the future possibilities and use cases of 5G.
“The reality is that 5G will bring a major wave of connectivity that opens new dimensions for innovation and commercial and economic development,” said George Nazi, Accenture’s Network practice global lead, in a statement. “Breakthroughs in three-dimensional video, immersive television, autonomous cars and smart-city infrastructure will unleash opportunities that are difficult to imagine today but will soon be transformative. Telecommunications companies will play a pivotal role in bringing these prospects to light.”
Many business leaders are turning to communication service providers, with 40 percent indicating they plan to partner with telecom companies on their 5G initiatives. Still, 60 percent of executives feel CSPs lack knowledge about the challenges in their industries and how they can put 5G to use for innovation.
While 78 percent of respondents think using 5G will make their business more secure, executives named a number of perceived barriers to 5G adoption. This includes 36 percent citing the upfront investment as a barrier, 32 percent said security, and employee buy-in was cited by 29 percent of executives.
Anders Lindblad, Accenture’s Communications & Media industry lead for Europe, said, “Despite the knowledge gap, there is excitement among business leaders about the value that 5G can bring to enterprises. This value is currently trapped within the perceived risks and uncertainty around 5G, which can be unlocked by organizations that understand customer needs, can overcome barriers to adoption and can drive collaboration among service providers.”
